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7.23.2014

Opioid Addiction: A
Brain Disease. So Why Don't You Believe
It?

by Zac Talbott, BA, CMA

Director | NAMA Recovery of Tennessee

Since opioid addiction was first documented in the United
States following the U.S. Civil War of the 1860's and dubbed "the Army
Disease," through the synthesis of heroin a couple decades later and its
marketing by the Bayer Company as a "wonder drug" into the early
1900s, its rise among minorities and the poor in the mid-20th century, to its
resurgence in the middle class today due largely to the rise of the "pill
mill" and Purdue Pharmaceutical's effective marketing of OxyContin during
a time the American Medical Association was decrying the "under
treatment" of chronic pain,
dependence on opioids has long been referred to as a
"disease." But an unfortunate reality remains that many, including
the 12 step fellowships like Narcotics Anonymous, call it a disease yet don't
truly embrace the disease theory due to their rejection of its medical
treatment. So why is it that many today,
even within the field of substance use and medication assisted treatment, don't
fully believe or embrace the disease concept?

NIDA News (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

ASAM Magazine (American Society of Addiction Medicine)

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) Blog & Updates

Check out NAMA-R's SAMHSA-funded MARS Project!!

Methadone Saves Lives!

Methadone maintenance has been shown to reduce illicit heroin use, decrease the incidence of infectious disease (such as HIV and hepatitis), reduce criminal activity, improve social outcome & reduce mortality. Click the image to read more about the benefits of methadone...

Methadone Treatment is the "Most Effective Treatment"

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Methadone Treatment is the *most* effective treatment option for opioid addiction. Click the image to read more from the CDC...

Methadone Treatment is the "Standard of Care" for Pregnant Women

Methadone has been accepted since the late 1970's to treat opioid addiction during pregnancy and was recommended as the standard of care for the same by a NIH consensus panel in 1998. Click the image to read more about Methadone Treatment as the standard of care for pregnant women...